Douglas Rugby Club will return to action when they travel to face Guernsey Raiders later this month.

The Manx side’s first team have not played a game since facing Birkenhead Park on the Wirral on March 14 prior to all sport being suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic.

While their immediate league future remains uncertain, the Port-e-Chee outfit is stepping up its pre-season preparations and, thanks to the current air bridge between the two islands, have arranged to face their Guernsey counterparts in a little over two weeks’ time.

Two Douglas RUFC teams are heading to the Bailiwick on August 14, home of the Guernsey Raiders who play their rugby in the London and South East Premier Division of the national leagues.

The crown dependency, which has a population of around 65,000, has not recorded a case of Covid-19 for more than 90 days and is operating without any restrictions, except in relation to travel and quarantine.

The first and second Douglas XV’s will play on Saturday, August 15 before returning to the Isle of Man on the Sunday afternoon.

With coaching staff and supporters, the Manx club will travel with upwards of 72 people.

The obvious attraction in organising the fixture is the air corridor between the two communities that alleviates the need to self-isolate on return.

Already the Guernsey under-14s, u15s and u16s are booked to visit Douglas on August 9 and a reciprocal fixture for the seniors is in the pipeline.

The inaugural senior match at 2pm will see both teams competing for the new Crown Cup, which both clubs hope will become an ongoing pre-season fixture between the respective level four and level six clubs.

The match will be live streamed on the Guernsey Raiders Facebook page and will be followed by another Guernsey club, the St Jacques Vikings, playing an Isle of Man select XV side at 4pm.

For those able to make it to Footes Lane in person, entry is free to members and under-16s, £10 entry for non-members.